Should we or shouldn't we adopt a "pick and choose" approach when ranking historical sites?

(Baonghean.vn) - Ms. Hoang Thi Quynh Anh - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports: The ranking of historical sites aims to attract state investment and mobilize social resources in the management of these sites, while also honoring their value. Therefore, the ranking of historical sites should not be limited to a haphazard approach.

Comrade Hoang Viet Duong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, speaks at the working session. Photo: Mai Hoa

According to a report by the Department of Culture and Sports, the physical education and sports movement in the province has developed quite strongly in both breadth and depth in recent times; attracting people of all ages to participate in physical training following the example of the great President Ho Chi Minh.

High-performance sports training is a priority, encompassing 20 sports disciplines, with 515 athletes and 64 coaches. On average, the Department organizes 4-7 provincial-level high-performance sports competitions annually, attracting 150-500 participants. The province also participates in and wins awards at national and international competitions every year. In 2016 alone, the province participated in 62 national and international competitions and won 304 medals of all kinds.

Besides the positive results, based on direct monitoring of several localities before the meeting with the Department this morning, a matter of concern for many members of the monitoring team was the inadequate infrastructure for physical education and sports activities in many localities.

Mr. Ho Mau Thanh, member of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, explained some issues of concern to the inspection team. Photo: Mai Hoa

Acknowledging this situation, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, affirmed that investment resources for physical education and sports activities are limited, failing to ensure investment in facilities and training equipment at high-performance sports training centers and even at the district level. Currently, the province still lacks a sports complex; at the district level, some sports facilities have deteriorated but investment in upgrading is slow and difficult.

Ms. Huong also acknowledged that the management of businesses and individual business households in the field of physical education and sports has not been strictly enforced. Out of more than 70 businesses and individual business households in this field in Vinh City, only 10 have been licensed.

Regarding the implementation of recommendations and proposals from the Culture and Social Affairs Committee of the Provincial People's Council, based on the results of the 2014 monitoring of state management of historical and cultural relics in the province, the Department of Culture and Sports has paid attention to the work related to inventory, assessment, evaluation, ranking, as well as restoration, repair, and rehabilitation of relics... However, at the meeting, some members of the monitoring team raised some concerns.

The province prioritizes investment in high-performance football. (Photo: Archival image)

Citing the fact that some classified historical sites have not received adequate investment, leading to some sites remaining dilapidated and run-down despite their classification, Mr. Bui Dinh Long - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Nam Dan District Party Committee, and member of the monitoring team - suggested that the Department should reconsider the relationship between classification and investment. Mr. Long also raised concerns regarding the classification of ancestral temples, emphasizing the need to ensure it aligns with reality and avoids public criticism.

Regarding this issue, Ms. Hoang Thi Quynh Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, stated: The ranking of historical sites aims to attract state investment and mobilize social resources for site management, while also honoring the value of these sites. Therefore, the ranking of historical sites should not be limited to a haphazard approach.

Regarding the ranking of family lineage relics, Ms. Hoang Thi Quynh Anh also affirmed: National culture originates from the cultural roots of family lineages, therefore, ranking family lineage relics is a necessary task. In addition, the monitoring team also continued to recommend that the Department continue to pay attention to promoting the value of revolutionary historical relics, while addressing shortcomings in environmental sanitation and managing service activities at spiritual relic sites....

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan, Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Committee of the Provincial People's Council, concluded the working session. Photo: Mai Hoa

At the conclusion of the working session, on behalf of the supervisory delegation, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan - Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Committee of the Provincial People's Council - requested the Department of Culture and Sports to review the shortcomings in policies and regulations related to physical education and sports activities and to propose timely additions and amendments to the Provincial People's Council. She also requested attention to reviewing, compiling statistics, and implementing measures to manage sports service facilities, especially swimming pools, billiard halls, and children's playgrounds. Furthermore, she suggested researching and advising the Provincial People's Committee on decentralizing the management of sports services; and effectively managing the planned areas for physical education and sports activities in the province, preventing these planned areas from being used for business activities.

Regarding the management of historical and cultural relics, Ms. Lan suggested that the Department develop solutions to promote and enhance the value of historical relics. She also proposed specific regulations for managing service activities at these sites, ensuring civility and preserving traditional identity.

Mai Hoa